Climate change adaptation

The impacts of climate change already affect Californians in significant ways. These impacts are projected to become more frequent and severe over time. It is important that all PG&E customers be able to rely on us for the energy services they need:

• As the state decarbonizes through electrification
• In the face of climate-driven natural hazards  

We are committed to making clean and resilient energy a reality for all.

Climate Adaptation and Vulnerability Assessment

This Climate Adaptation and Vulnerability Assessment (CAVA) analyzes how climate-driven hazards such as:

• rising average and extreme temperatures,
• extreme storms and flooding,
• sea-level rise, and
• wildfire

may impact PG&E’s ability to provide safe and reliable energy.

The CAVA identifies potential climate-change vulnerabilities of PG&E’s assets and operations to projected conditions in 2050. It also details potential adaptation options that could be pursued to address these vulnerabilities. These options are not proposed investments. But they will be critical to inform future decision-making.

The CAVA focuses on the conditions that will be more likely to occur by 2050. However, Californians are already experiencing historically extreme climate-driven hazard events. Many of the adaptation options discussed in the CAVA will be important for mitigating both current and future risk due to climate change.

PG&E’s CAVA is a critical step forward in understanding the physical climate risk that must be managed. It will help ensure a clean and resilient energy system for all.

CAVA Executive Summary (PDF)
CAVA Full Report (PDF)

Climate change and the communities we serve

Delivering for our hometowns is at the heart of what we do at PG&E.  

Most Californians are exposed to some level of climate-driven hazards. However, not all are affected by these hazards to the same extent or in the same ways. Marginalized communities with fewer resources are more vulnerable to a wide range of hazards, including climate change.

Through our Resilient Together Initiative, we partnered with community members. The partnership helped us understand how climate hazards are impacting the energy-related needs of those we serve.

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) designated disadvantaged and vulnerable communities (DVCs) as those most vulnerable to climate change. The diagram below identifies these communities. PG&E expanded community engagement efforts beyond the DVC’s census tracts to include vulnerable communities that are outside of the CPUC definition.

Download ArcGIS files (ZIP)

CPUC climate adaptation rulings

PG&E’s CAVA was developed in accordance with the California Public Utilities Commission’s (CPUC’s) Decisions (D.) 19-10-054 and (D.) 20-08-046 of the Climate Adaptation Order Instituting Rulemaking (OIR) 18-04-019.